Garment press



July 15, 1930. M. M. TITTERINGTON 1,770,762

GARMENT PRES S Original Filed Oct. 30, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR /7 arr/1r Her/n 60/1.

I By r" 1 .L \TTORNEYS July 15, 1930. M. M. TITTERINGTOIN 1,770,762 GARMENT PRESS Original Filed Oct. 30, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llun $/ .lllllllllll- I Patented July 15, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MORRIS M. TITTERINGTON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MEETS, TO THE PROSPERITY COMYANY, INCL, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPO- RATION OF NEW YORK GARMENT PRESS Application filed October 30, 1924, Serial No. 746,746. Renewed March 2, 1929.

This invention relates to garment pressing and laundry ironing machines.

An object of the invention is to produce a garment press or ironing machine having new and improved operating mechanism and designed especially to take up little space and at the ame time afford awide opening jaw motion to produce extended visibility of the work and pressing jaws.

A further object of the invention is to produce an operating mechanism for laundry ironing and garment pressing machines especially adapted to cufl and neck band or other work in laundries and the like. \Vhile I have chosen a V-type cuff and neck band shirt jaw machine. such as ordinarily used for ironing cuffs and neck bands, the mechanism of this invention is also adapted to machines having large size flat press jaws both for ordinary tailors pressing work, for seam flattening and pressingoperations, and large fiat piece laundry work. The inventionalso embodies improvements in operator-actuated opening and closing means to move the jaws into and out of pressing alignment and power or motor means operating automatically to produce great pressure on the work.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one' practical form of the invention but it is apparent that certain changes may be made in construction and operation without departing from the scope of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a side view of the garment press in closed position just prior to inception of jaw movement to compress tightly on the work; and Figure 2 shows a front view with the jaws in the same position.

Figure 3 illustrates a side elevation of the machine with the pressing jaws or members in open position; and Figure 4 is a partial front elevation and section as developed along the section line 41 of Figure 1.

Referring further to the drawing for a more detailed description of the invention, there is shown a press frame pedestal supporting the operating mechanism; and the frame may carry a table 11 provided with a central slot 12 in which a buck jaw standard or push rod 13 may oscillate or swing back and forth. Cooperating pressing members or jaws such as a buck 14 and head 15' spectively anchored 011 the upper extremity of standards 13 and 14. The spaced outer head standards 14 are placed outside the table 11 while the single inside buck standard pro ects through the table.

The buck and head jaws 14 and 15' means such as by are repressing members or are heated by any suitable steam or electricity, but the heating means is omitted for clearness in illustration and description. The adjacent working faces of the two jaws may be given any suitable form or shape.

The lower ends of the swinging head standards 14 are anchored at their lower ends .to a shaft 15 which is journaled in the pedestal frame 10. Both lower ends of the outer standards 14 are pinned or otherwise secured to the shaft 15 so that a pedal 16, which is likewise plnned and anchored to the shaft 15, may be depressed by an operator to rotate the shaft 15 thereby swinging the head 15 forwardly to a vertical position such as shown in Figure 1. An extension arm 17 is cast integrally with the closing pedal 16 and projects rearwardly from the shaft 15. The rear end of the arm 17 is provided with an adjustment screw and nut 23 the purpose of which is to auto matically open and close a steam throttle valve employed to stop and start the high pressure motor means hereinafter described. The pedal 16 or any suitable prime-mover means is used to swing the uprights 13 and 14 for opening and closing the press jaws.

An opemng pedal or kick-off pedal 18 is anchored to a shaft 19 which is journaled in the frame and a collar 20 may be anchored to the end of the shaft 19 to hold the kicksofi' pedal or more particularly a lug 21 in proper position directly underneath the aforesaid closing pedal 16. The upwardly projecting lug 21 rests in contact with the underneath edge of the pedal 16. The weight of the pedal 18 causes the shaft 19, to which the lug 21 is attached. to hold said lug against the pedal 16. Therefore, when the standards 14 are-standing vertically with the closing pedal 16 in downwardly limited position. it follows that the kick-off pedal 18 is standing up in position ready to be thrust down by the foot of the operator in order that the standards 14 and head 15 be tilted rearwardly thereby opening the press. The shaft 19 carries a hub 24 fixed thereon, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described, and an arm 22 is integral with the hub.

The centrally disposed standard or pressure producing upright 13 is adapted to reciprocate through a short distance to produce high pressure jaw clamping action whereas the head standards 14 do not reciprocate since they are pivotally connected directly to the shaft 15. Furthermore, the buck standard 13, in addition to this reciprocating motion, likewise oscillates back and forth in a manner quite similar to the back and forth movement of the standards 14. The two press jaws 14 and 15' therefore move along a horizontal line to and from each other, said motion occurring simultaneously. Since both jaws move laterally towards each other and apart, it follows that each jaw moves through a very short angular distance.

A swinging yoke or U-shaped member 25 is pivotally mounted on hearing pins 26 which are being anchored in the pedestal frame 10. The upper end of the yoke or lever 25 is provided with an integral guide sleeve 27 in which the buck standard 13 is slidably confined. The lower ends of the yoke 25 are movably carried outside the pedestal frame 10 and a pin 28 is rigidly anchored to each lower yoke end. Each pin is confined for free movement in a slot 29 made in each standard 14. The slots 29 permit free oscillating motion to be executed as between the standards 14 and the downwardly extending yoke ends 25, and so it follows that the yoke 25 pivots on the bearings 26 while the long standards 14 pivot on a point near the bottom of the frame and the two members 14 and 25 swing freely in connected relation. It is now observed that, by depressing the closing pedal 16, the rotary motion of the shaft 15 is transmitted to the central standard 13 and the two outer spaced standards 14; and the operation is such that one downward short stroke of the pedal 16 swings the head and buck together into pressing alignment since slightclearance is always present between the jaws when the head and buck standards are in motion.

A motor housing 32 is anchored between the upright frame pieces 10. A fixed lower cap 33 closes one end of the motor housing, and the lower extremity of an extensible and contractible bellows 34 is set and anchored pressure-tight to the inner wall of said cap. The cap 33 connects with a steam or air pressure passage 35 by which fluid pressure is c nveyed to the motor means. The upper end of the bellows 34 is closed pressure-tight with a diaphragm head 36 which head carries an integral push rod 37 slidably projecting through the upper end of the housing 32.

The upper end of'the motor push rod 37 supports the weight of the buck standard 13 and jaw 14 mounted thereon; and it is observed that, when the diaphragm 34 expands due to fluid pressure admitted thereto, the push rod 37 moves upwardly with great force carrying the standard 13 with it and jamming the buck 14 tightly against the pressing surface of the head 15'.

An important feature of this high power motor construction is that the movement of the diaphragm is extremely limited. Usually the movement of about one-sixteenth to one-fourth of an inch at most is of the greatest sufficiency as far as reciprocating or expanding the diaphragm 3 1 is concerned.

This extremely short' reciprocatory motion imparted by the motor to the press jaw buck 14' is an improved feature in the operation of the press obtained thru the agency of the improved motor means for the. reason that, since the diaphragm expands and contracts through a limited movement, the life thereof is practically unlimited because of the fact that the expansion and contraction takes place well within the flexible limits of the diaphragm. Such efficiency and long life operation is quite impossible in motors of the piston and cylinder type for the reason that relatively movable parts are there employed wherein wear occurs permitting steam and water leaks. No steam and water leaks may occur in the diaphragm motor device because relatively movable parts are not present; and furthermore the water of condensation which results from steam entering and leaving the diaphragm drains back through the passage 35 and is discharged out through an exhaust and thus no leakage occurs in this machine.

Control means are necessarily employed to stop and start the operation of the motor means which is to say a throttle valve 38 is included in a steam feed supply pipe 39 which leads to the passage 35. The throttle valve 38 may be of any approved type and in this instance it is provided with a valve stem 40 which is engaged by the adjustable screw 23 carried on the rear end of the throttle operating arm 17. \Vhen the operator depresses the pedal 16, it follows that the press jaws 14 and 15' move into vertical pressing alignment; and at the same time. the arm 17 rises to thrustv its screw head 23 against the valve stem 40 which opens the throttle valve 38 and admits steam or air pressure from the feed pipe 39 into the motor which causes it to expand and thrust upwardly against the buck jaw 14' in a manner already described.

The machine stands under pressure as long loo as the throttle valve 38 is held open by the control arm 17. When the pressing operation is completed and the work between the jaws is finished. the operator depresses the a pedal 16 which tilts kick-off pedal 18 which tilts the arm 22 up wardly. Through the agency of a link 41, an exhaust valve arm 42 is pivoted upwardly to open an exhaust valve 43 included in the passage 35 and in an exhaust pipe line 44; and so it follows that the fluid pressure expanding the bellows 34 discharges outwardly through the exhaust pipe 44. S multaneously therewith, the downward pressure imposed by the operator on the pedal 18 causes the lug 21 to push upwardly on the apart the pressing jaws of pressing alignment other to open the press visibility of the press 14' and 15' and out and away from each and afford extended and completed work.

A feature of this machine is the double motion or acting jaws and the double rectilinear opening and closing movement which is accomplished without wide angular pivoted jaw movement so common and so dangerous in operation as characterizes presses now in use. It is noted that the parting acu tion of the jaws is accomplished with slight clearance, so much so that ones fingers or hands cannot accidently get in between the jaw pressing surfaces.

Furthermore, no counterbalance weight or springs are employed in this press construction. The weight of one of the jaws, in this instance the buck 14, is suflicient to produce jaw separation to remove compression, and theweight of the jaws are placed high above the fulcrum centers which produces an inverted pendulum action causing the machine to be sensitive in opening and closing mo tion, which is to say the standards 13 and 14 oscillate at-the expense of very slight eflort.

An advantage of the diaphragm motor means over piston and cylinder type motor means is distinctively marked in that no inside moving parts are present to cause leakages, no stufiing box is employed and the water of condensation which accumulates in side the motor means drains off through the exhaust valve and pipe lines and therefore the press is a cleaner working machine than power presses now in general use.

The pedal I16 and motor means 32 are examples'of operating or prime-mover means for working the press, that is any suitable type mechanism may be employed for effecting operation thereof and the invention is not limited to the use of the pedal for swinging the jaw-carrying uprights, nor is it limswingable in the frame, a single standard disposed between said spaced standards and swingable in the frame, a press j aw carried on the upper ends of the pair of standards, a

standards and the single standard to simultaneously swing the press jaws into pressing alignment, and means for forcing the aligned jaws into pressing coaction.

2. A press comprising in combination, a frame, a pair of swingable in the frame, a single standard dlsposed between said spaced standards and swingable in the frame, a press jaw carried on the upper ends of the pair of standards and on the single standard, means carried in the frame cooperating with thr lower ends of the swinging standards to move the press jaws into pressing alignment, motor means cooperating with the standards for forcing the jaws together in tight compression, and control means acting to first separate the jaws and including means to subsequently swing them out of alignment.

3. A press comprising in combination, a frame, a pair of spaced upright standards swingable in the frame, a press jaw carried on the upper ends of the spaced standards, a single standard swingable in the frame, a press jaw mounted on the single standard, means carried in the frame cooperating with the pair of standards and with the single standard to swing the press jaws into pressing alignment, motor means, means cooperating therewith for squeezing the aligned jaws into pressing relation, a control for the motor means, and a work table above the frame having a slot therein through which the single standard swings.

4. A press comprising in combination, a frame spaced upright standards swingable in the frame, a single standard also swingable in the frame, a press-jaw mounted on the spaced standards, a press jaw also mounted on the single standard, a pedal pivoted in the frame and connected with the lower end of one of the swinging standards, pivotal means operatively connecting together the spaced standards and the single standard to move the press jaws into pressing alignment, a motor, means cooperating with the motor to force the aligned jaws together, kick-ofl means to release the jaws and throw the standards to open the press, and motor control means connected to the kick-off means.

5. A press comprising in combination, a frame, a work table carried thereon, coacting press jaws mounted above the table, said table being provided with a slotted opening, a standard pivoted in the frame and extending through the slotted opening and attached to one of the press jaws, a closing pedal by which the standard is oscillated, motor means mounted in the frame and control means therefor, means operated by the motor to reciprocate the standard to produce high jaw compression, a kick-ofi' pedal conspaced upright standards nected with the control means to release the standards to and fro to open and close the press, a motor means arranged to longitudinally move one of the standards to produce jaw compression, and power. control means to release the jaw compression and cause subsequent swinging of the standards to wide open jaw position. b

7. A press comprising in combination, a frame, upright parallel standards pivoted thereon, a U-shaped member pivotally carried on the frame and having its arms pivotally connected with the parallel standards, a standard slidably confined in the bend of the U and swingable therewith, a press jaw mounted on the parallel standards, a jaw mounted on the slidable standard, closing means to operate the U-shaped member by which the press jaws are swung into alignment, means for. reciprocating the slidable standard to press the jaws together, and release means for separating the jaws.

8. A press comprising a frame, press jaws, two spaced standards fixed to one jaw and being pivotally supported'at their lower ends in the frame as an inverted pendulum, a single swingin standard disposed between the two space standards and fixed to the other jaw and swingable in the frame as an inverted pendulum, frame, means operated by the pedal to swing the standards'to align the jaws, and means to bring the jaws together in compression.

9. A press comprisingin combination, a frame, a U-shaped member ivoted thereon, a guide sleeve made on the end of the U, a press head, means mounting said head on the frame, a buck standard slidably confined in the sleeve, a press buck carried on the standard, a pedal pivoted on the frame, means connecting the pedal with the U-shaped member to swing the buck into alignment with the head, and means for reciprocating the standard upwardly through the sleeve and U- shaped member to produce jaw compression.

10. A press comprising in combination, a frame, a yoke including a U-shaped member with arms pivoted thereon, a guide sleeve made on the yoke, a press head, means mounting said head on the frame, a buck standard slidably confined in the sleeve, a press buck mounted on the standard, a pedal, means a pedal pivotedin the,

connecting the pedal to the yoke arms to swing the yoke sleeve and buck standard to align the head and buck, and means for reciprocating the standard through the yoke sleeve. v

11. A press comprising in combination, a frame, a yoke including a U-shaped member with arms pivoted thereon, a guide sleeve made on the yoke, a buck standard slidably confined in the yoke sleeve, a press buck carried on the standard, vertical standards pivoted on the frame, a head carried by the vertical standards, a connection established between the yoke and standards to cause said yoke and standards to move simultaneously, means for swinging the yoke arms and standards to bring the head and buck into pressing alignment, and means for thrusting upwardly on the buck standard to produce high compression.

12. A press comprising in combination, a frame, cooperating press jaws, a pair of spaced inverted pendulum-like standards pivoted on the frame at their lower ends and having the upper ends thereof anchored'to one of the press jaws, a second standard vertically disposed and pivoted in the frame and anchored at the upper end thereof to the other press jaw, a yoke including arms forming a U-shaped member pivoted on the frame and slidably retaining the second standard in operative position, a pivotal connection made between the yoke arms and pair of inverted pendulum-like standards, a pedal attached to the pendulum-like standards to simultaneously align the jaws, and motor means cooperating with the lower end' of the second standard to produce jaw compression.

13. A press comprising in combination, a frame, a cooperating head and buck, a pair of inverted pendulum-like standards pivoted at their lower ends and having theupper ends thereof anchored to the head, a buck standard vertically disposed and anchored at its top to the buck, a yoke including arms forming a U-shaped member pivoted on the frame and slidably retaining the buck standard in operative position, a pivotal connection made between the yoke arms and pair of inverted pendulum-like standards, a pedal attached to the pendulum-like standards to simultaneously swing the head and buck together into pressing alignment, motor means mounted in the frame, and a push rod operated by the motor means and resting in contact with the aforesaid buck standard.

14. A pressing machine comprising in combination, a frame, a motor mounted therein, a push rod adapted to be reciprocated by the motor, a buck standard supported verticalily at its lower end on the top of the push ro a supporting the buck standard in the frame for swinging and reciprocating motion, a vertical pivoted head standard carried on the ress buck mounted thereon, means as frame, a head fixed thereon, and means connecting together the buck and head standards in pivotal relation and for swinging them.

15. A press comprising in combination, a table having a slot therein formed, a pedestal frame on which the table is mounted, a pair of spaced vertical standards one each .disposed outside but adjacent the table and each pivoted at its lower end on the frame, a single standard standing vertically in the table slot and swingable in the frame, a press jaw mounted on the upper ends of the spaced standards, a jaw mounted on the upper end of the single standard, means operatively connecting the'single standard to the pair of standards, a pedal pivoted on the frame to operate the standards, and means to produce jaw compression.

16. In a press, a frame including parallel vertical and spaced supports, motor means mounted between and on the supports, a lever pivoted on the frame, coacting press jaws above the frame, swingable upright means having their upper ends attached to the jaws to swing them open and closed and means for swinging said upright means, the lower ends of the swingable upright means having operative connections with the lever, and said motor means including a motion-transmitting part engaging the swingable upright means to reciprocate same to produce jaw compression.

17. In a press, a frameand coacting press jaws thereon, operating means carried under the jaws to work the press and including a end to a jaw, a jaw-swinging upright attached at its upper end to the other jaw and pivotally cooperating at its lower end with the other end of the lever, and operating means to tilt the jaw-swinging upright back and forth and reciprocate the pressure upright up and down.

20. In a press, a frame and jawsthereabove, an upright lever pivoted on the frame about a horizontal axis under the jaws, a-pair of upright swingable standards each of which is attached to a jaw and the lower ends thereof being connected to the lever by pin lever pivoted on the frame and having a 4 sleeve, a pressure upright attached to one jaw and carried by the lever and sleeve and mov able therein to compress the jaw against the other, and another upright having its upper end attached to the other jaw and its lower end operatively connected to the lever whereby the lever acts to swing the uprights to open and close the press jaws.

18. In a press, a frame and coacting press jaws thereon, operating means carried under the jaws to work the press and including a lever pivoted on the frame and havin a sleeve, a pressure upright attached to one jaw and carried by the lever and sleeve and movable therein to. compress the jaw against the other, another upright having its upper end attached to the other jaw and its lower end operatively connected to the lever, and means actuated by the operating means to swing the last named upright which swings the lever and hence swings the pressure upright to open and close the press jaws, and means to reciprocate the pressure upright in the lever sleeve.

19. In a press, a frame and jaws thereon, a lever disposed upright and pivoted on the frame, a pressure upright held slidably in one end of the lever and attached at its upper 

